The number of applicants for a permit to undertake large-scale mining operations in Negros Oriental had reached 56 as of last counting, provincial legal counsel Erwin Vergara said.

Vergara on Monday said this can be seen in a Tenement Map of Region VII, prepared by the Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau-7 of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, as of April 2009.

Areas that have been applied for by different large-scale mining companies include those in Manjuyod, Bindoy, Jimalalud, Ayungon, Tayasan, Basay, Bayawan, La Libertad, Guihulngan, Amlan, Tanjay, Pamplona, Siaton, San Jose, Sibulan, Valencia, Sta. Catalina, Bacong, Dauin, and in the capital city of Dumaguete.

Valuable minerals and other geological materials being applied for mining include gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, limestone, tuff, sulphur, silica, gypsum, manganese, iron, molybdenum, rock phosphate, magnetite sand, shale and clay, among others.

Vergara said the applicants are still awaiting their exploration permits, while others are already in the exploration stage although there is no regular extraction activity yet.

He said Negros Oriental is rich in mineral resources and other geological materials that small-scale and large-scale mining would bring in more economic activity and generate more jobs.

Vergara said the provincial government is not opposed to mining per se as long as the permit-holders have complied with the requirements, and operations are done within the bounds of the law.

He said “responsible mining” will provide alternative livelihood to Negros Oriental constituents.

The provincial legal counsel also assured that Capitol is very strict in regulating and monitoring mining activities in the province.

Gov. Emilio Macias II continuously visits mining sites to ensure that there are no violations being committed by the permit-holders.

Meanwhile, he said some mining operations in the province have slowed down due to the current global economic crunch.

Others have stopped operating or have abandoned their operations, he added.*JFP

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